Manual Transmission question.

[Spike88]

I'm planning on getting a manual mustang in the next 3-5 years. When funds allow. The only problem is I don't know how to drive manual. I'm wondering if I should just buy a POS car for 2-3 thousand, and just practice manual in that. Or wait until I can afford the car and risk killing my clutch. Opinions.

Edit: As a side note depending on the exact car, a clutch for most of the newer mustangs runs from 200-500. Which is cheaper, but I'd have to have someone put it in which could run up to 1 thousand and above.

[Fr8monkey]

I'd rent a manual Transmission car. Cheap and Insurance will cover your misteaks.

Easy to learn 1 - 2 hours tops.

[XabbaRus]

Manuals are easy.

the trickiest bit at the beginning is pulling away in first and more importantly trickling along in 1st or reversing. Learning how to control the speed of the car with the clutch.

why don't you go get a few lessons.

When learning to trickling on the clutch just remember that the clutch controls your speed not the revs. Get it right and you can have your engine howling away but be inching along. Of course not recommended for long periods or you'll burn your clutch.

The only thing is if you are used to an automatic don't forget to put your clutch in when you stop...

[Rockstar]

If you plan on taking it to the track maybe a manual is for you. But to use one effeciently and effectivley takes alot of practice and I don't think you'll want to take your brand new pony anywhere other than to show it. IMO, it's well worth the extra bucks to get an automatic. I lived in Miami, you will appreciate an automatic waaay more than a manual with all the start and stop traffic associated with city driving. Highway makes no difference as you won't be shifting gears all that much anyways.

Now days it's hard to beat a automatic off the line if thats what you're thinking of, unless you're good at a manual the other guy will leave you behind chokin on dust.

I took out a perfectly good automatic once and threw in a B&M manual-automatic with transmission brake and set up an independent front wheel brake system. I could rev up those RPM's, let go the tranny brake and with the front wheels locked those back ones would smoke for all they was worth. Release the front brakes and away I went Course I'd burn a transmission or two up every few months

[Fr8monkey]

The hardest part of stick is starting from a stop on a hill.

One plus of Stick over Auto. is you can push start on a dead battery!

[Chad]

My first car was an automatic, but my last 2 have been manual transmissions. Being a young driver, I think they both have their pro's and cons..

For instance, driving a manual will get guy appeal, but when you're driving you can't hold your girls hands if you're shifting a lot. UNLESS, you're sweet and romantic like me and place their hand on the stick and shift while their hand is on it making it feel like they're important. You've got to be a lot more cautious while driving a stick too, because as Xabba mentioned, you've got to press in on the clutch when coming to a stop.

Most of today's cars are pretty good when it comes to clutch strength. My car was almost 12 years old when I sold it and the clutch was still as good as day 1. The car I own now I haven't noticed anything except when starting it, I have to press it all the way to the floor, which could just be a manufactor thing.

I learned to drive a manual actually from being grown up on tractors, four wheelers, and dirt bikes. It's a little bit different using your feet than a couple of fingers, but the principle is the same.

[{1.SS}Eberhardt]

Originally Posted by Chad

Most of today's cars are pretty good when it comes to clutch strength. My car was almost 12 years old when I sold it and the clutch was still as good as day 1. The car I own now I haven't noticed anything except when starting it, I have to press it all the way to the floor, which could just be a manufactor thing.

Being a mechanic, i couldn't help but notice this. You said you had to press the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. This shouldnt happen. You might have a loose or frayed clutch cable (if its cable operated which i doubt) or a hydraulic leak (if its hydraulic which is much more probable since its power assisted, theyve been implementing power assist clutch pedals for a long time now) or it has a vacuum leak (if its vacuum assisted) which would be pretty bad because thats most likely pulling vacuum from your engine which means you could have an engine vacuum leak which opens up a whole new box of candy.

Since I don't know what kind of car it is i cannot be certain, but at least i hope i helped a little bit. If not I had some fun typing this anyway

[Chad]

Originally Posted by {1.SS}Eberhardt

Being a mechanic, i couldn't help but notice this. You said you had to press the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. This shouldnt happen. You might have a loose or frayed clutch cable (if its cable operated which i doubt) or a hydraulic leak (if its hydraulic which is much more probable since its power assisted, theyve been implementing power assist clutch pedals for a long time now) or it has a vacuum leak (if its vacuum assisted) which would be pretty bad because thats most likely pulling vacuum from your engine which means you could have an engine vacuum leak which opens up a whole new box of candy.

Since I don't know what kind of car it is i cannot be certain, but at least i hope i helped a little bit. If not I had some fun typing this anyway

Ah thanks for your concern, and welcome to the board.. It's a 2001 Hyundai Tiburon, I'm not sure if that helps you or not. I don't have a lot of money to spend, so if it is just a vacuum leak, to fix it would it just be replacing a faulty tube?

My dad is a motorcycle mechanic, but can work on almost anything. Last month he replaced my master cylinder. All I have to do is purchase the part, and i get free labor for repairs. He's asleep now or otherwise I'd ask him what he thinks.

[XabbaRus]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

If you plan on taking it to the track maybe a manual is for you. But to use one effeciently and effectivley takes alot of practice and I don't think you'll want to take your brand new pony anywhere other than to show it. IMO, it's well worth the extra bucks to get an automatic. I lived in Miami, you will appreciate an automatic waaay more than a manual with all the start and stop traffic associated with city driving. Highway makes no difference as you won't be shifting gears all that much anyways.

Now days it's hard to beat a automatic off the line if thats what you're thinking of, unless you're good at a manual the other guy will leave you behind chokin on dust.

I took out a perfectly good automatic once and threw in a B&M manual-automatic with transmission brake and set up an independent front wheel brake system. I could rev up those RPM's, let go the tranny brake and with the front wheels locked those back ones would smoke for all they was worth. Release the front brakes and away I went Course I'd burn a transmission or two up every few months

I have to respectfully disagree with you on some of the points here.

To drive a manual effectively or efficiently doesn't take that much time or practice. They are a lot easier than people realise.

I wouldn't say that driving a manual in stop start traffic is a big deal. If your careful and with my car I can gently slip the clutch all the way out and the car rolls on tickover. Get the distance to the car infront correct and you can keep rolling. That's what I do in a jam, I keep a large enough distance that I can trickle along, then usually the traffic infront has started moving before I have to stop, my gap opens up and I can keep going.

I wouldn't know about drag racing an automatic so I'll take your word for it, though I believe I can get the jump on one.

Then again in the UK I think 90% or more of drivers learn on manuals and most people drive manuals. Also a manual transmission is more fuel efficient. One thing that bugged me with an auto was when it would hunt the gear, usually between 3rd and 4th for example of I was going up a hill at a certain speed, the system couldn't make up its mind.

However I will concede if I'm feeling lazy I'll drive an auto.

[gandalf71]

Shifting manually is simply more fun!

But today´s automatic gearboxes are quite efficient, their biggest backdraws in the past were slow gear changing and fewer gears than their manual contenders. Most car makers here in Germany are switching from the classic automatic gearboxes to semi-automatic twin-clutch gearboxes since the last 5 years. Those are absolutely excellent, very fast gear changes and 6-speed usually, hard to beat in means of acceleration and fuel efficiency for a manual shifter and for the driver the semi-Automatic makes no difference to an fully automatic gearbox in terms of handling.

Shifting manually is basically very easy, the only point you should take care of is your clutch, a clutch can last 250.000 km, but can also be gone in 20.000 km depending on the way you use it. Replacement is quite expensive and elaboratory.

If you once drove an automatic in daily stop-and-go traffic switching to a manual shifter will be pure horror, but if you go for a race track it will be a hell lot more of fun.

br
Michael

[gandalf71]

Americans!



Cheers,
Michael

[TarJak]

Cheapest thing to do is to get some lessons. You'll learn it right and as you have your license you'll already understand the main things you need to know. My missus took 3 lessons to get the hang of a manual after getting her license on auto and hasn't had a problem since.

Hill starts are the biggest thing to come to grips with but once you do it's all too easy.

[Platapus]

Whether to go for manual or auto, to me, depends on where you are located.

When I was living in the midwest I had a manual and it was GREAT! Mostly because of the traffic. In the Midwest the traffic allowed you to enjoy and get the most benefits out of a manual.

However, once I moved to the Nation's capitol I found that a manual sucked!

Few things suck more than driving a manual in rush hour traffic jams. I quickly switched to an auto because of the traffic.

If I ever get a chance to live out in the county again, I would consider a manual.. but never while in the big city

[Spike88]

Originally Posted by Fr8monkey

I'd rent a manual Transmission car. Cheap and Insurance will cover your misteaks.

Easy to learn 1 - 2 hours tops.

Actually I heard that Rental places don't have manuals anymore. How true this is I dont know.

@Rockstar: I actually live in Cutler Bay which isn't really that stop and go, and I hardly go into downtown. I could see how it'd be a problem on the side streets but most of the time I'm either on the turnpike doing 70+ or US1 doing 40+. And I've always wanted to get a manual car. As for my job, I'm becoming a police officer so all I need to do to get to work is get into my squad car.

@Fr8monkey. There aren't any hills in Miami :P

Another reason I want a manual car is because I plan on getting a harley eventually.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Fr8monkey

I'd rent a manual Transmission car. Cheap and Insurance will cover your misteaks.

Easy to learn 1 - 2 hours tops.

I think he is onto something here Drive it like a rental car on spring break Actually, it is very easy. First thing you do is look at how a manual tranny works. What the clutch does. Once you understand what you are doing while pressing the clutch pedal, you will the picture this in your mind as you try out a manual tranny car. Also, just go to a used car lot and tell them you want to test drive any old car with the manual in it. These days, dealers will hand over the keys to any car you want.